This June, we celebrated an incredible milestone: Our 80th anniversary. From humble beginnings in 1945 to today’s state-of-the-art facility in Haworth, West Yorkshire, we’ve grown to become one of the UK’s leading spring and wire-form suppliers. In this blog post, we’re reflecting on our heritage, celebrating what has got us to where we are today, and looking forward to the next chapter for Airedale Springs.
Humble Beginnings and Early Expansion
On June 7th 1945, Gordon Parkinson established Airedale Springs on Low Street in Keighley, initially crafting wire handles for glass accumulators. Almost immediately, the growing demand meant we had to relocate to Royd Mill in Oxenhope, and by 1957 the factory moved again to a larger site on Harry Lane, adjacent to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. In those days, much of the work was carried out by outworkers in their own homes, fostering a community spirit that is still a fundamental aspect of our ethos.
As orders increased, we diversified under the umbrella of The Dales Group of Companies. Sites in Rochdale and Keighley produced presswork components, bed and upholstery parts, springs and wire forms, and its own metal-finishing plant. By the mid-1970s, the decision to consolidate operations under Airedale Springs Ltd led to the opening of a facility at Bridgehouse Mills in Haworth, setting the stage for further growth.
Bridgehouse Mills (Haworth)
Uniting and Achieving Quality Certification
After operating across multiple sites for around fifteen years, the late 1980s saw around 100 employees brought together under one roof at a new 50,000 square foot factory at Ebor Mills in Haworth. This unification meant we could achieve better efficiency and collaboration and invest in advanced CNC technology. Around this time, we were one of the first manufacturing firms in the UK to earn recognition under the national Investors in People standard and achieved certification to BS5750, now known globally as ISO 9001. Ever since the early days, we’ve been committed to both staff development and quality management.
Ebor Mills (Haworth)
Airedale Springs in the 21st Century and The 2010 Fire
On the 14th of August 2010, Airedale Springs was met with its greatest challenge when a major fire hit the Ebor Mills factory, destroying infrastructure and decades of heritage overnight. It was in this moment of loss that the resilience of the Parkinson family and the dedication of employees shone through. Plans to rebuild began immediately, and with support from partners and the wider community, within less than two years we reopened in May 2012 at The Spring Works, a purpose-built 18,000 square foot facility in Haworth. This rapid recovery was not only essential for us but reflects our determination to honour our past while looking forward to the future.
Innovation, Development, and Sustainability
Since relocating to The Spring Works, we have been consistently investing in cutting-edge CNC wire-forming machinery, enabling us to meet increasingly complex customer requirements. Our workforce remains multi-skilled, with ongoing training, apprenticeships, and development programmes designed to inspire the next generation of engineers.
Alongside technological advancement, environmental sustainability has become a core aspect of the business. Today, we are one of the few manufacturing facilities that have a Net-Zero Co2 EPC rating of -12 A+. Our factory is powered by over 400 solar panels that sit on our roof and provide over 80% of our annual energy needs, and we have a 368Kw battery storage facility built to store surplus energy and power operations for over four hours. We’re among the UK’s most celebrated green manufacturers, winning notable awards like SME Business at the 2025 Yorkshire Sustainability Excellence Awards, Sustainable Business of the Year at the 2024 Keighley & Airedale Business Awards, and many more.
With such a rich history, we are proud to say that Airedale Springs is still family-owned. Sean Parkinson, grandson of the founder, leads the company as Managing Director, while his brother Tim Parkinson serves as Chairman. Their father, Michael Parkinson, who retired in 2000, continues to contribute as a non-executive director. Their collective leadership embodies the founding values of people-focused practices, resilience, and integrity.
From left to right – Sean Parkinson, Michael Parkinson and Tim Parkinson
“Airedale Springs has always been about more than just products—we’re about people, resilience, and doing things the right way,” said Sean Parkinson. “We’re proud to honour our past, but even more excited about the future. Our thanks go out to every employee, customer, and supporter who has helped us reach this remarkable milestone.”
Honouring the Past and Embracing the Future
As we enter our 80th year, Airedale Springs are still as dedicated as ever to delivering excellence in British manufacturing, creating high-quality springs, wire forms, pressings, and newly integrated laser-cut components. Our vision for the future includes inspiring young engineers through apprenticeships and community collaborations, to create the foundation of talent to carry the legacy forward. We continue to invest in and prioritise sustainability, with ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact and adopt greener processes as technology advances.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we want to express our gratitude to every team member, customer, and partner who has contributed to the story. Here’s to the next 80 years of supporting British manufacturing, engineering excellence, and sustainability.